What’s Up?

What We Really Think of Youth

“I am impressed that today’s youth have deep desires to serve and bless others—to make a difference in this world. They also crave the joy that their service brings.”

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Coming to Ourselves: The Sacrament, the Temple, and Sacrifice in Service,” Ensign, May 2012, 36.

Christmas Break Reading

Imagine having some free school days to start the new year—your possibilities are wide open. Do you go camping? Take a road trip to visit relatives? Start a new hobby? A group of 29 youth from Texas, USA, chose to hold a scripture-reading marathon. Their goal: to read the entire Book of Mormon over the break.

Held during a school break at the beginning of 2012, the reading marathon was an ambitious undertaking. To help them all stay together, the youth read along while listening to an audio narration.

There were also some surprising challenges. During the first day a main waterline broke in town, leaving them with no running water. Determined to stay on track, leaders hauled in water from food storage. The youth wanted to keep reading despite the obstacles. As they approached the end of the reading marathon, a big cheer went up after they turned off the recording and a member of the stake presidency read the final chapter out loud. “There are good things and there are better things,” says Audrey J., one of the youth in attendance. “This was a better thing for us.”

Quote from Conference

“In this turbulent environment, we rejoice in being disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “What Thinks Christ of Me?” Ensign, May 2012, 111.

This Month in History

January 5, 1841: The Prophet Joseph Smith establishes the Nauvoo Lyceum, a religious school that functioned as a sort of early Missionary Training Center.

My Favorite Scripture

D&C 121:33: “How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.”

I read this every time I need strength from God. It helps me realize and understand His power, and it makes my fear of the evils of the world disappear.

Lillian S., 17, Florida, USA

Tell us about your favorite scripture in a paragraph or two. Send it to us, along with a photo, by going to newera.lds.org and clicking “Submit Material.”

5 Group Snow-Date Ideas

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Snow painting. Fill up spray bottles with water tinted by food coloring, and use a snowbank as your canvas.

The objective of a regular Sudoku is to fill the 9×9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9 only one time. For this puzzle, instead of numbers, use the scripture reference and the eight words in bold to complete the puzzle.

This is so true [see “Facing the Storms of Life” at lds.org/go/13F]. So often in my trials I think, “I cannot endure this!” but somehow I always manage to … through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father hears our every prayer. The peace the Spirit brings … is gentle and quiet, but it is there. Heavenly Father and the Savior will pull us through.

Meredith Eve B., 15, Australia

We love hearing from you. Write to us by going online to newera.lds.org and clicking “Submit Material.”

Or you can email us at newera@ldschurch.org or write to New Era, 50 E. North Temple St., Rm. 2420, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-0024.